It’s called the “Mozart” Effect. Research shows students listening or playing music or Mozart, who was a famous music composer, feel calmer, study longer, retain more, and score higher on tests. A comprehensive series of skill tests were run on 5,154 fifth-graders in all 75 of the Albuquerque, NM elementary schools. IN EVERY SINGLE TEST AREA, kids who were learning to play a musical instrument received higher marks than their classmates. And, the longer the students had been playing the instrument, the higher they scored.

The American Music Conference reports that music makers are more likely to go onto college and other higher education than students that do not play a musical instrument. In fact, they are 52% more likely to attend college.

Tim Lautzenheiser, internationally known speaker, states, “Research shows that students who are in the school band and orchestra are traditionally in the top 25% of their class. On SAT tests, music students scored 38 points higher on verbal test and 21 points higher on math test. It’s not just that the top students are in music. They become top students because they are in music.

Playing music also helps children learn teamwork, discipline, and creativity. The Florida Academy of Performing Arts, located at Music Showcase at 402 Oakfield Drive in Brandon, offers individual and group music classes for ages 4 and up. Lessons are provided for voice and almost every musical instrument. Students learn in soundproof studios from a staff of over 50 qualified teachers. Students also regularly perform in recitals. And, if children don’t have an instrument or are not sure of which one to play, they can try them out in the Mini-Musicians class or participate in the rent-to-own instrument program. So, sign-up now and get smarter!